You think you might be pregnant, and your mind immediately goes to how everyone else will react.
What will your parents say? How will your boyfriend react? Do you tell your best friend? Or keep it to yourself until you know more?
So, who do you tell first? And how?
1. Make Sure You Have the Facts First
Maybe your period is late, you've noticed some changes, or you've already taken a home pregnancy test. Before having those conversations, make sure you have the information you need.
Pregnancy Care Clinic offers free pregnancy testing, so you can get more information before deciding what comes next.
If you've already confirmed your pregnancy, then comes the question of who to tell.
2. Think About Who You're Telling and Why
Not everyone needs to know right away.
What do you need from that person? Advice? Support? Just someone to listen?
Your best friend might be the person you tell everything to, but that doesn't necessarily mean she's the best person to talk to about this. The same goes for your boyfriend or your parents.
Choose someone who will listen before offering an opinion. And remember, telling one person doesn't mean you have to tell everyone.
3. How Do You Start the Conversation?
Sometimes knowing who to tell is easier than figuring out what to say.
You don't need a long explanation or some perfectly planned conversation. You could start with something as simple as, "I need to tell you something, and I'm nervous about how you're going to react."
Or maybe, "I think I might be pregnant, and I could really use someone to talk to."
If having the conversation face-to-face feels too difficult, you might feel more comfortable starting with a text or phone call. There's no rule that says you have to share the news a certain way.
4. They Might Not React the Way You Expect
You probably have a pretty good idea of how certain people in your life might react. But you could be surprised.
Someone you thought would be supportive might have a lot of questions. Someone you were afraid to tell might respond better than you expected.
And sometimes, the questions start coming before you've even had a chance to finish talking.
"What are you going to do?"
"Does your boyfriend know?"
"Have you told your parents?"
You don't have to answer every question on the spot. It's perfectly fine to say, "I haven't figured that out yet." You can share the news without having to explain every detail of your situation.
If the conversation doesn't go the way you hoped, give yourself time before deciding what to say or do next.
And if you're worried someone might threaten you, hurt you, or put you in an unsafe situation, consider speaking with someone you trust before telling them.
5. What If You Regret Telling Someone?
Maybe you told a friend and now you're worried she'll tell someone else. Or maybe the conversation didn't go the way you expected.
If you want to keep the news private, be clear about that. Don't assume the other person knows you're not ready for anyone else to hear.
You can simply say, "I'm not ready for other people to know, so please keep this between us."
And if someone does share your news without your permission, it's understandable to feel upset. You still get to decide what you want to share with others and when.
6. You Can Talk to Someone Outside Your Circle
Sometimes it's easier to talk to someone outside your circle. Someone who doesn't know your boyfriend or your parents and can offer a fresh perspective without getting personally involved.
If you're not ready to talk to someone you know, Pregnancy Care Clinic is another option. You can come in for free pregnancy testing, ask questions, and learn about the services available to you.
You don't have to bring anyone with you, and you don't have to know what you're going to do before making an appointment.
If you think you might be pregnant and aren't sure where to start, Pregnancy Care Clinic offers free pregnancy testing and a place to ask questions.
Contact Pregnancy Care Clinic to schedule an appointment.